Science & Tech Spotlight: Wearable Technologies in the Workplace |
---|
In 2022, workers in warehousing, manufacturing, and construction experienced over 700,000 nonfatal injuries and over 2,000 fatal accidents. This Spotlight discusses how companies are deploying technologies worn on the body to try to improve safety and productivity.
These wearable technologies vary in size and function. Technologies such as exoskeletons—which can provide physical support to the user's body during repetitive overhead work—are already in use in industrial workplaces.
But concerns about data privacy, cost, and ease of use may deter adoption of wearables. For example, employees have had concerns about being tracked by the devices.
|